Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21: “Rooted in Love, Filled with Power”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to strengthen your heart and fill you with His love and power. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you need deeper roots in His love and greater reliance on His strength.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
(Ephesians 3:17b-18, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

• Kneeling Before the Father – The Posture of Strength
  • Paul begins his prayer by kneeling, demonstrating humility, surrender, and dependence on God.
  • “True strength begins when we humble ourselves before God the Father.”
• Strengthened in the Inner Being – The Source of Strength
  • Paul prays for inner strength, not just external circumstances to change.
  • “When the wheels come off, where do we go? What are we plugged into?”
• Rooted and Established in Love – The Foundation of Our Lives
  • Like a deeply rooted tree, we must be firmly grounded in God’s love to withstand life’s storms.
  • “If your roots are in God’s love, you will stand strong in difficulty.”
• Grasping the Vastness of God’s Love
  • God’s love is wide, long, high, and deep—limitless in every way.
  • “God’s love is wider than our sin, longer than our failures, higher than our doubts, and deeper than our pain.”
• Filled with the Fullness of God – Living in His Power
  • God is able to do “immeasurably more” through His power in us.
  • “When you’re filled with the fullness of God, there’s no room for fear, insecurity, or doubt.”

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to be “rooted and established in love”?
• How does Paul describe the dimensions of God’s love?
• How can understanding the vastness of God’s love change the way you live?

Application Prompts

• Deepening Your Roots – Spend time meditating on Scripture and praying for a deeper understanding of God’s love.
• Living in God’s Power – Identify an area where you need to rely more on God’s strength.
• Sharing God’s Love – Commit to praying for someone who needs to experience God’s love.

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 3:1-13: “The Mystery Revealed”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to open your heart to the beauty of the gospel. Ask Him to reveal how you can play a part in sharing His message with others and living out His purpose.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 3:1-13

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
(Ephesians 3:6, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

• The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
  • The gospel is for everyone, breaking down all barriers.
  • “The gospel is for ALL—wherever you’re from, whatever you look like, whatever you think of yourself, whatever anyone else thinks of you.”
• The Privilege of Sharing the Gospel
  • Paul sees himself as a humble servant of this message.
  • “We are all humble servants of a great saviour and a great gospel.”
• The Church as God’s Multi-Coloured Reflection
  • The church displays God’s “manifold wisdom”—a diverse, multiethnic family.
  • “The church is meant to be a reflection of multicoloured, multiethnic community, beautifully woven together by the grace of God.”
• Living Out the Gospel with Purpose
  • We are part of an eternal restoration project.
  • “We are part of an eternal restoration project.”

Discussion Questions

• What does Paul mean by the “mystery” of the gospel?
• Why was this revelation so radical for Paul’s time?
• What does it mean that we are “heirs together” with Christ?

Application Prompts

• Living in Unity
  • Reach out to someone different from you this week.
• Stepping into God’s Purpose
  • Ask God where He wants you to serve.
• Embracing the Global Mission
  • Research and pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Prompts

• Thanksgiving for the Gospel
  • Praise God for including you in His family.
• Interceding for Unity
  • Pray for churches worldwide to reflect God’s love.
• Asking for Boldness
  • Pray for courage to share the gospel.

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 2:19-22: “Built Together in Christ”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to open your heart to understand what it means to be part of His holy temple. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life where He is shaping and refining you to fit into His Church.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 2:19-22

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
(Ephesians 2:19-22, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

• From Strangers to Family
  • Paul reminds the Ephesians that they are no longer outsiders but part of God’s household.
  • “You belong here. God has taken you from being an outsider and brought you into His family.”
• The Foundation of the Church
  • The Church is built on the teaching of the apostles and prophets.
  • “Without strong foundations, we lose sight of who we are and what God has done for us.”
• Jesus as the Cornerstone
  • A cornerstone keeps the entire building aligned.
  • “Jesus isn’t just part of the building—He holds everything together and keeps it true.”
• God Dwelling Among His People
  • Paul describes the Church as a holy temple where God’s Spirit lives.
  • “God doesn’t want to be far from you—He wants to be present with His people.”

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to be “fellow citizens” and “members of God’s household”?
• Why is Jesus called the “chief cornerstone,” and why is that important for the Church?
• What are some “walls” that can prevent unity in the Church today?

Application Prompts

• Strengthening Your Foundation
  • Spend time studying Scripture this week to deepen your understanding of who you are in Christ.
• Living as God’s Temple
  • Identify ways you can live in a way that reflects God’s presence in you.
• Allowing God to Shape You
  • Ask God to show you any areas of brokenness or sin that need His restoration.

Prayer Prompts

• Thank God for making you a citizen of His Kingdom and a member of His household.
• Pray that the Church would stand firm on its foundation in Christ.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill His Church with His presence.

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 2:11-22: “United in Christ”

Opening Prayer

Begin by asking God to reveal His truth about unity, both in our relationship with Him and with others. Pray for open hearts to understand His desire for His people to be one in Christ.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…”
(Ephesians 2:13-14, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

• Unity with Christ (Vertical Relationship)
  • Before Christ, we were separated from God, without hope.
  • Jesus tore down the barrier of sin, reconciling us to God.
  • “Our unity with Christ is the foundation for our unity with others.”
• Unity in Christ (Horizontal Relationship)
  • Jesus didn’t just reconcile individuals to God but created a new people—His Church.
  • The body of Christ is strongest when we are united, just as in a rugby scrum.
  • “We are one body, not just individuals in the same place.”
• Breaking Down Barriers
  • Jesus tore down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, and He calls us to remove walls in our own hearts.
  • “Brick by brick, stone by stone, the wall is torn down.”
• Living as a Holy People
  • We are called to be the dwelling place of God, built together with Christ as our cornerstone.
  • “We become the very body of Christ on earth.”

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Passage

• Why does Paul emphasize remembering our past separation from God?
• What does it mean that Jesus “tore down the dividing wall of hostility”?

Applying the Message

• How can we practically live out unity in Christ in our daily relationships?
• What are some personal barriers that may be preventing unity with others?

Personal Reflection

• Are there any relationships in your life where reconciliation is needed?
• How does your unity with Christ impact the way you treat others?

Application Prompts

• Strengthening Your Vertical Relationship
  • Spend time in prayer this week, thanking God for bringing you near to Him.
  • Reflect on how Jesus has changed your life and identity.
• Living in Horizontal Unity
  • Consider reaching out to someone you may have drifted apart from.
  • Find ways to support and encourage fellow believers in your community.
• Breaking Down Barriers
  • Ask God to reveal any prejudices or unforgiveness in your heart and surrender them to Him.

Prayer Prompts

• Thanksgiving for Reconciliation
  • Thank God for making a way for you to be united with Him.
• Interceding for Unity
  • Pray for unity in your church, asking God to strengthen relationships among believers.
• Seeking to Live as One Body
  • Commit to being a peacemaker and encouraging unity in your relationships.